Device for packaging two products separately

ABSTRACT

Device (100, 200, 400) for packaging two products (A, B) separately and dispensing a resulting mixture (M) on a first use, said device comprising a plug (300) arranged between a lower container (110, 210) forming a first product cavity (115) and an upper container (120, 220) forming a second product cavity (125), the plug (300) having a base (310) fixedly secured to one of the lower container (110, 210) or upper container (120, 220) and presenting a communication passage (314) opening on both the first and second cavities, and a rotatable head (350) engaged with the other one of the upper container or lower container, the head being rotatable between a closed position where it covers the passage in the base thus preventing fluid communication between the first and second cavities and an open position where head is rotated away and at least partially uncovers the passage, thus allowing mixing of products contained the first and second cavities.

The present invention relates to a device for packaging two products that must be kept separated during transport and storage, and are to be mixed on first use before dispensing the resulting mixture.

More particularly the present invention relates to a device comprising two superposed containers, which are capable of turning one relative to the other and which are suitable for communicating with each other.

One advantageous application of the invention is the use of the multiple-compartment device for packaging multi-component cosmetic products, comprising a first component to be mixed with a second component right before use. The cosmetic product may be a care product or a hair coloration or makeup product, comprising in particular reactive components to be kept separated before they are used.

Other advantageous applications of the invention may be the use of the multiple-compartment container to store non-cosmetic products such as, adhesive products, polymer coatings, flavoured liquids, etc, comprising reactive components to be kept separated until they are used.

The components may preferably be in fluid powder or liquid form. In particular, the components may be a fluid powder and a liquid or two liquids.

The expression “cosmetic product” is understood to mean a product as defined in Regulation (CE) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 Nov. 2009 on cosmetic products.

Reference can be made to document JP2010/083534 which describes a device for packaging two separate components comprising a container body, a powder storage chamber fitted in a non-rotatable manner with respect to the container body, a plug member for closing said powder storage chamber before the first use and a nozzle member configured to transmit rotational movement to said plug member. The plug member is capable of rotating relatively to the container body and to be screwed downwardly until falling into the container body when the nozzle member is rotated with respect to the container body.

However, such device comprises a large number of components and is particularly difficult to manufacture.

Reference can also be made to document U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,175 which describes a device for packaging two separate components having a lower container containing a first product, an upper container containing a second product, which are capable of turning one relative to the other, and a shutter for closing the upper container. Said shutter comprises a plug connected to a holding member by a hinge-forming bridge. The device further comprises means for preventing the rotation of the holding member relative to the containers when the containers are rotated relative to one another.

Therefore, when the upper container is rotated relative to the lower container in a first rotation direction, the holding member of the shutter translates upwardly, causing the plug to pivot around the hinge from a first position of closing the upper container to a second position of opening the upper container.

However, the holding member being held axially on the lower container by an annular rim, when the user rotates the upper container in a second rotation direction, opposite to the first rotation direction, the holding member of the shutter translates downwardly until said annular rim bears on an inner shoulder of the lower container, which may cause the plug to pivot back from the second position to the first position.

The upper container can thus be closed inadvertently by a user, causing an inappropriate use of the device.

Finally, one may also refer to document US20180127171 disclosing a mixing container for heterogeneous contents, more particularly, a mixing container for heterogeneous contents configured to include a container body storing first content and a pipette part storing second content separately from each other. The pipette part is coupled to a lower portion of the container body, second content stored in the pipette part move to the container body when a rotation body is rotated and then first and second contents are mixed.

Although it is claimed that such a device is easy to fill and to assemble, it still has a high number of components and requires several operations from the user.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a device for packaging two separate products of simple structure, easy to manufacture and easy to use.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for packaging two products separately and dispensing a resulting mixture on a first use. Said device comprises a lower container delimiting a first product cavity containing a first product and an upper container delimiting a second product cavity containing a second product, said containers being capable of rotating one relative to the other without moving axially.

The device further comprises a plug arranged between the first product cavity and the second product cavity.

According to the present application, the plug has a base fixedly secured to one of the lower container or upper container and presenting a communication passage opening on both the first and second cavities, and a rotatable head engaged with the other one of the upper container or lower container.

The head is rotatable between a closed position where it covers the passage in the base thus preventing fluid communication between the first and second cavities and an open position where head is rotated away and at least partially uncovers the passage, thus allowing mixing of products contained in the first and second cavities.

By providing a plug having a rotatable head which may selectively cover or uncover a communication passage in the head, the device is kept simple and does not require a complex movement to be activated. Contrary to several prior art devices that implement plugs having complex movements combining rotation and translation, the head of the base only requires a rotational movement and is directly activated by the relative rotation of the two containers. In addition, such a configuration may operate in both directions (clockwise or counter clockwise rotation), which also facilitates user's operation.

Since the activation movement is quite simple, the plug may be integrally made, for example by injection moulding. It is also easily adaptable usual type of containers.

Preferably, head of the plug is secured to the base of the plug, in its closed position before first use, by a frangible connection. Such a feature may be advantageous as an anti-tampering feature.

In a first preferred embodiment, the base is integrally made with the lower container. The container integrating the plug may be filed through an open end, opposite to said plug, the open end being closed by a cover after filing.

Alternatively, in a second preferred embodiment, the base of the plug is mounted inside an open end of the container, preferably an open neck of said container. Preferably, the base is mounted on the lower container, said lower container being a vial, preferably integral.

In an alternate embodiment, the lower container has an open end, located opposite the plug, that is closed by a cover after filing the second product.

Preferably, the upper container is a dispensing container such as a pipette closed by a removable cap or an ampule closed by a breakable top neck.

In addition, the upper container may also be used to apply the product and may carry application and/or massage elements such as massaging spheres or combing teeth.

Also preferably, the upper or lower container engaged with the head of the plug, comprises at least one inner lateral grooves configured to receive and cooperate with corresponding laterally projecting tabs of said head of the plug. Thus, the container carrying the base of the plug may simply be connected to the other container just like a bottom cover or plug, by simply sliding the projecting tabs of the head along the corresponding lateral inner grooves, the other container being thus rotationally engaged with the head of the plug relatively to the base of said plug.

Preferably, the head is without rotational symmetry, namely has on oval shape.

The present application also relates to a method of using a device according to the invention, comprising the step of rotating the upper container relatively to the lower container in order to force the rotation of the head of the plug relatively to said base of the plug and uncover the passage in the base allowing communication between the first and second cavities.

The present invention will be better understood from studying the detailed description of an embodiment considered by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the attached drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 6 are schematic views of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 7 to 9 are schematic views of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a complementary embodiment equipped with application elements.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a device 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing the various components of said device 100.

FIG. 2 is a view of the assembled device 100 along a longitudinal section.

The device 100 is intended for packaging two products A, B separately and dispensing a mixture M of those two products on first use.

The device 100 comprises a lower container 110 delimiting a first product cavity 115 containing the first product A and an upper container 120 delimiting a second product cavity 125 containing the second product B.

Lower container 110 and upper container 120 are arranged so that they are capable of rotating one relative about a longitudinal axis of the device 100 to the other without moving axially.

To this end, in the exemplified embodiment, the lower container 110 is a vial comprising a peripheral wall 111, a closed bottom 112 and an opposite open neck 113 together delimiting the first cavity 115. The lower container 110 is integrally made from a thermoplastic material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the neck 113 has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the body of the lower container 110 and comprises, on its outer surface, two outer annular shoulders 113 a delimiting an annular groove 113 b.

The upper container 120 is in the form of a cap and comprises a central dispensing chimney or duct forming the second cavity 125 and containing the second product B.

The upper container 120 comprises a terminal dispensing orifice 126 covered with a removable terminal cap 123.

Alternatively, the upper container 120 may present an upper portion shaped with a frangible end piece. At the time of use, the frangible piece is broken away in order to open a dispensing orifice in flow communication with the internal cavity.

The upper container 120 is rotatably mounted on the lower container 110 by way of an assembly peripheral skirt 122 provided on its radially inner surface with an annular bead 122 a cooperating with the annular groove 113 b of the lower container by snap-fit attachment, such that the upper container 120 is held axially relative to the lower container 110, while allowing a rotating movement one relative to the other.

The upper container 120 has an annular sealing lip 128 extending substantially along the longitudinal axis X-X′ down into the neck 113. The sealing lip 128 is annular and bears closely against the radially inside surface of the neck 113, which surface is annular, thereby providing sealing between the lower container 110 and the upper container 120.

According to the present invention, the device further comprises a plug 300, separately shown on FIG. 3, arranged between the first cavity 115 and the second cavity 125.

The plug 300 has a base 310 which is to be fixedly secured to the lower container 110. More precisely, the base is mounted inside the neck of the lower container 110. The base may be forced-fitted inside the neck and blocked into rotation by way of longitudinal ribs 311 arranged around said base and intended to cooperate with corresponding longitudinal grooves on an inner surface of the neck 113. The base 310 may also be blocked longitudinally by way of a peripheral annular rib 312 intended to clip inside a corresponding inner groove of the neck.

Furthermore, the base 310 is hollow and present a communication passage 314 opening both on the first cavity 115 of the lower container 110 and the second cavity 125 of the upper container 120.

One will note that the opening orientated toward the second cavity 125 is biased in the longitudinal direction of the packaging device. One will also note that the opening toward the second cavity is non-circular, namely slightly oval. Inclination of the opening may vary depending on the desired rise amplitude as it will be explained below.

The plug 300 also comprises a rotatable head 350 mounted on the base and arranged so that the head 350 may be rotated between a closed position (FIG. 4) where it covers the passage in the base thus preventing fluid communication between the first and second cavities and an open position where head is rotated away (FIG. 5) and at least partially uncovers the passage, thus allowing mixing of products contained in the first and second cavities.

More particularly, the head 350 is mounted on the base 310 in the opening orientated toward the second cavity. To this end, the head 350 is also equipped with longitudinal prongs 351 bearing against an inner ridge of the opening of the base. The prongs 351 help guiding the head during its rotation.

In the exemplified embodiment, the head is oval shape so that when its shape substantially corresponds to the shape of the opening to cover. When the head is rotated by 90° as shown on FIG. 5, it uncovers the oval opening of the passage 314 through the base.

In addition, the head 350 presents two lateral tabs 352 intended to cooperate each with a corresponding inner longitudinal groove of the upper container. This way, the head is mechanically engaged with the upper container 120. Rotation of the upper container 120 relatively to the lower container 110 will cause the head to rotate relatively to the base of the plug, thus partially uncovering the opening of the base allowing fluid communication between the lower container 110 and the upper container 120.

Since the opening of the base 310 toward the second cavity 120 is biased in the longitudinal direction, the head 350 will also rise during rotation, thus increasing a gap between the base and the head and thus facilitating the flow between the two cavities. Amplitude of the raise will depend of the inclination of the opening.

The plug 300 may be integrally made from a thermoplastic material. In addition, in order to improve sealing in the closed position and to provide an anti-tampering functionality at first use, the head is manufacture integrally with the base of the plug while keeping a frangible peripheral skirt to be broken at first rotation.

As illustrated on FIG. 6, use of the device 100 is as follow. First the user turns the cap (upper container 120) on the vial (lower container 110). By doing this, the head 350 (engaged with the upper container 120) of the plug 300 will also rotate and uncover the passage 314 in the base 310. Product B can thus fall down into product A and be mixed with it. Mixture M is dispensed through dispensing orifice 126 after removal of top cap 123.

FIG. 7 is a view of a device 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention along a longitudinal section.

Device 200 mainly differs from device 100 in that the base of the plug 300 is integrally made with the lower container. As it will be noted, device 200 comprises an upper container 220 being a breakable ampule as substantially described in document EP1918214.

Device 200 also comprises a lower container 210 that is plugged to the bottom of the ampule forming the upper container 200, in place of the stopper 5 described in document EP1918214 so as to make the ampule able to store two products and dispense the mix of the two products.

The lower container 210 is sealingly plugged to the upper container 220 by way of outer peripheral ribs 218 born by the lower container 210 that are able to cooperate with corresponding peripheral inner grooves of said upper container. Of course, the other way round is possible. This way, according to the invention, the upper container 210 can rotate relatively to the lower container 210 without moving axially. The upper container 220 is equipped with lateral wings 226 intended to help the user rotating it. The lower container 210 may present complementary lateral wings 216.

Advantageously, the lateral projecting wings 226 of the upper container 220 may be aligned with the projecting wings 216 of the lower container 210 in the closed position. Thus the user can know if the device has been open if the wings are misaligned.

As explained, lower container 210 integrates the plug 300.

The internal wall of the upper container 220 is equipped with longitudinal grooves able to slidably receive the lateral tabs 352 of the head 350 of the plug 300 when said lower container 210 is plugged to the upper container 220. Thus, once plugged, the head 350 of the plug 300 becomes mechanically engaged with the upper container 220.

Moreover, it is no longer equipped with a neck allowing the lower container 210 to be filled up before installing the plug 300 in said neck and has to be bottom-filled. To this end, the lower container is provided with an open bottom, opposed the plug 300, and closed after filing by a corresponding stopper.

As illustrated on FIG. 10, use of the device 200 is as follow. First the user turns the breakable ampule forming the upper container 220. By doing this, the head 350 (engaged with the upper container) of the plug 300 will also rotate after breaking the frangible skirt. The head then uncovers the passage 314 in the base 300. Product B can thus fall down into product A and be mixed with it namely by shaking the device 200.

This ampule type container 200 is particularly appropriate for smaller amount of product, of the order of 1 to 5 ml total amount.

FIG. 10 illustrates an improved container 400 differing from devices 100, 200 in that it carries at the dispensing orifice 126, an arrangement of massaging element 401. 

1. A device for packaging two products separately and dispensing a resulting mixture on a first use, said device comprising: a lower container delimiting a first product cavity containing a first product and an upper container delimiting a second product cavity containing a second product, said containers being capable of rotating one relative to the other without moving axially, wherein said device comprises a plug arranged between the first product cavity and the second product cavity, the plug having a base fixedly secured to one of the lower container or upper container and presenting a communication passage opening on both the first and second cavities, and a rotatable head engaged with the other one of the upper container or lower container, the head being rotatable between a closed position where it covers the passage in the base thus preventing fluid communication between the first and second cavities and an open position where head is rotated away and at least partially uncovers the passage, thus allowing mixing of products contained in the first and second cavities.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the head is secured to the base, in its closed position before first use, by a frangible connection.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the base is integrally made with the lower container.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the base is mounted inside an open end of the container preferably an open neck of said container.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the base is mounted on the lower container, said lower container being a vial, preferably integral.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower container has an open end, located opposite the plug, that is closed by a cover after filing the second product.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper container is a dispensing container such as a pipette closed by a removable cap or an ampule closed by a breakable top neck.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper or lower container engaged with the head of the plug, comprises at least one inner lateral grooves configured to cooperate with corresponding laterally projecting tabs of said head of the plug.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the head is without rotational symmetry, namely has on oval shape.
 10. A method of using a device according to claim 1, comprising: a step of rotating the upper container relatively to the lower container in order to force the rotation of the head of the plug relatively to said base of the plug and uncover the passage in the base allowing communication between the first and second cavities. 